Maura Higgins and Pete Wicks seal the deal on rumoured romance ...

Rumours that the Love Island star and Towie legend were an item began circulating when they were spotted having a "passionate" kiss last August.

Now, their burgeoning relationship appears to have been confirmed after they shared a kiss in the Red Bar at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London as they shared a tender moment at the star-studded event.

They have both been keeping a low profile in recent weeks since they were spotted kissing outside the Broadwick Hotel in Soho in August while enjoying an alfresco lunch.

Pete had even fuelled romance rumours with Strictly Come Dancing partner Jowita Przystał while Longford’s Maura had kept fans guessing by getting cosy with dancer Kai Widdrington.

At one point, Kai appeared to twirl Maura around at the afterparty while placing his hand on her arm and planting a kiss on the back of her head.

However, Maura and Pete, who have always maintained that they are "just friends", were seen getting very close at the afterparty where MailOnline claims Maura was seen by onlookers planting a kiss on Pete's nose before the pair kissed on the lips.

This latest development comes weeks after they were seen "all over each other" when Maura joined Pete and his Strictly co-stars in the pub.

An onlooker told The Sun: "They were chatting to Pete's co-star Wynne Evans and it was very clear they were more than just friends.

"Things have clearly turned romantic as they were all over each other.

"At one point she ran her hands through his hair under his hat, and they were cuddling loads too.

"They looked really cosy and comfortable with each other."

Pete has also been showing off his Strictly moves as he danced with Maura in a new TikTok video in which he pulls her leg up as she falls into his arms.

Maura captioned the clip: “A few concussions later...”

Maura has also engaged in Pete’s Staying Relevant podcast and wore a personalised T-shirt showing a picture of the pair kissing outside the hotel with the words, 'We can't be friends' written in capital letters across the front of her chest.

She posed with an arm around Pete's best friend Sam Thompson in the snap, which she captioned ''Hilarious night.... you smashed it @samthompson @stayingrelevantpodcast.'

Pete has previously dated former Towie co-stars Megan McKenna, Chloe Sims, and Ella Rae Wise while Maura split from American stuntman boyfriend Bobby Holland Hanton earlier this year.

Bobby, a successful stuntman who has performed in several movies and regularly plays Chris Hemsworth's stunt double, and Maura were first romantically linked after they were spotted on a date in London in May 2023.

The couple were then seen enjoying several passionate kisses while on holiday together in Ibiza in June before Maura finally confirmed her relationship during a December appearance on the Late Late Late Show.

In 2021, Maura had a relationship with former Strictly pro Giovanni but their romance reportedly went sour days after moving in together.

She has also had romances with her Love Island co-stars Christopher Taylor and Curtis Pritchard who she split with just eights month after meeting on Love Island in early 2020.

Both Pete and Maura took to social media after the Pride of Britain Awards.

In one post, Pete, who provided red carpet coverage, wrote alongside photos of himself and his friend Sam Thompson: "It was on honour to work at @prideofbritain again… [Sam] and I are very fortunate to be able to do some of the things we do but last night is without doubt the most special evening of the year.

"It's a beautiful event with beautiful people and a humbling experience to be in a room with true heroes who deserve the spotlight not just for one night but every day. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees - see you next year."

Maura has also been posting about the Pride of Britain Awards, writing in one post that featured photos of her modelling her outfit: "A truly special evening."

More recently, she was seen posing in a hotel lobby where she wrote: "Dreamy hotel @themayfairtownhouse."

A subsequent post later in the afternoon, first shared by a fan, showed Maura posing for a selfie with a group of guests at the awards ceremony's venue on Monday.